Air-valve for steam-radiators



W. J. COOK.

AIR VALVE FOR STEAM RADIATORS.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, I9I9.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

WILLIAM If. COOK, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

AIRVAIIVE FOR STEAM-RADIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed September 11, 1919. Serial No. 323,103.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM J. Coon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Valves for Steam-Radiators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in air valves for steam radiators and its object is to provide, a simply constructed valve organization wherein the valve element will be sensitive in its operation and will certainly and reliably prevent the escape of steam and water of condensation, and wherein the parts are readily accessible for any desired or necessary purposes, but are devoid of any, features of adjustment such as might impair the effective operation of the valve.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a steam radiator equipped with an air valve in accord ance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the air valve;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the air valve; the scale of this figure being exaggerated to promoteclearness of illustration I Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the valve.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The casing of the air valve comprises a tubular upright body 1, an upper cap 2 and a lower cap 3. The caps 2 and 3 are threaded on the body 1 and the cap 3 has a central opening which alines with the pipe 4: by which the valve is supported and also connected to the radiator. The pipe 2 is provided with a series of perforations 5 which permit the normal escape of air from the radiator.

The casing incloses a vertically slidable valve 6 which preferably has a cone-shaped body 7 and a flange 8 circumscribing said body at its open lower end. The valve 6 is guided in its movements by a pair of parallel vertical rods 9 which are arranged in diametrically opposite relation and extend between the caps 2 and 3. The rods 9 are preferably secured at their lower ends to the cap 3 and their upper ends bear against the cap 2. The flange S is provided with openings through which said rods project; and thereby the valve 6 is guided and steadied in its vertical movements.

Said valve has a free or floating action and is raised by steam pressure, the construction being such that in its uppermost position said valve cuts off the interior of its casing from communication with the openings 5 and in any position below its uppermost position establishes communication between the interior of its casing and said openings. For this purpose the interior of the body 1 preferably has a suitable upward taper whereby when the valve is in its uppermost position, as shown by dotted linesA in Fig. 3, the peripheral edge of the flange 8 will have uniform contact with the inner surface of the body 1, and when the valve is in any lowerposition, as shown by dotted lines B, an annular clearance 10 will be left between the peripheral edge of the flange 8 and the inner face of the body 1. The clearance 10, as is obvious, provides for the normal escape of air from the tube at through the valve casing and thence through the openings 5; and it will be manifest that when the valve is in its upper position with its edge in uniform contact with the inner face of the body 1, said clearance will be entirely eliminated and the interior of said body will be cut off from communication with the openings o.

The valve normally assumes by gravity a position wherein the clearance 10 is effective, as described, to pass air. When the air has been vented from the radiator and steam flows through the connection 4., the immediate effect is the movement of the valve, under the steam pressure, to its uppermost position, in which the valve prevents the escape of steam through the openings 5.

The conical form of the valve has several advantages; first, it increases the effective area of the valve and, therefore, insures its sensitive resistance to pressure variations; second, it insures that the pressure acts with strongest effect at the center of the valve and, hence, provides for the alinement of the valve in the casing and for its free movement along the guide rods 9; and third, it traps any water of condensation, preventing such water from being blown through the openings 5 and insuring its return to the *adiator through the con nection 4. 1

Having fully described my invention, I

pair of guide rods along which said valve element may slide, said valve element being subjected to air and steam pressure transmitted by said connection and in its uppermost position cooperating with said casing to cut ofl its communication with said open ings. i p i i2. mnair valve for steam radiators comprising a vertical casing having a tubular connection at its lower end and having air escape openings at its upper end, said casing having its inner face upwardly tapering and a valve element :treely movable in said casing, said *alve element being subject to air and steam pressure transmitted by said connection. and in any lower position having a clearance between its lower peripheral edge and said casing, while in its uppermost position its lower peripheral edge uniformly contacts with said casing. j

3. An air valve for steam radiators comprising a vertical casing having a tubular connection at its lower end and having air escape openings at its upper end, said casing having its inner face upwardly tapering, a valve elementfreely movable in said casing, said valve element being subjectto ai r and steam pressure transmitted by said connection and in any lower position having a clearance between its peripheral edge and said casing while in its uppermost position its peripheral edge uniformly contacts with sai'd'casing, and a pair of parallel guide rods extending throughout said casing and along which said valve element is slidable.

4. An air valve for steam radiators comprising a vertical casing having a tubular connection at its lower end and having air escape openings at its upper end, avalve element freely n'i-ovable insaid casing and having a conical body open at its lower end, and pair of guider'odsalong which said valve element may slide, said'valve element being subject to air and steam pressure transmitted by said connection and in its uppermost position cooperating with said casing to cut off its communication with said openings.

5. An air valve for steam radiators comprising a vertical'casinghaving a tubular connection at its lower end and having air escape openings at its upper end, said casing having its inner face upwardly tapering and a valve'element' freely movable in said casing and having a conical body open at its lower end, said valve eleinentibeing subject to air and steam pressure transmitted by said connection and in any lower position having a clearance between its lower peripheral edge and said casing while in its uppermost posi tion its lower peripheral edge uniformly con tacts with said casing. V, I r

6. An airvalve for steam radiators comprising a vertical casing having a tubular connection at its lower end and having air escape openings at its upper end, said casin g having its inner face upwardly taper-in a valve element freely movable in' said casing and having a conical body open at its lower end, said valve element being subject to air and steam pressure transmitted by said connection and in any lower position having a clearance between its peripheral edge and said casing while in its uppermost position its peripheral edge uniformly contacts with said casing, and a pair of parallel guide rods extending throughout said casing and along which said valve element is slidable.-

In DEStim'ODYVWhGIGOf I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. V V

WILLIAM J. COOK. lVitnesses p C. A. DUnLLMn'rI-I, A. COLLINS, 

